Coin slide mechanism

ABSTRACT

A coin slide mechanism is actuated when a slide, loaded with three coins of appropriate denomination in respective apertures, is depressed. The flat slide is normally biased to an extended position wherein the coin apertures are exposed, first and second apertures being disposed side by side on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the slide and the third aperture disposed further from the depressed position than the other apertures and overlapping the center line. A full stroke ratchet means ensures that the slide cannot be returned without completing its depression and coin testing means prevents depression of the slide if one or more coin apertures are empty. A guide track for the slide supports the three coins until the slide is fully depressed and then allows the coins to drop out of the slide. The mechanism can be changed to two-coin operation simply by changing the slide for one with two apertures.

United States Patent [191 Allen 1 COIN SLIDE MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Kenneth Rinaldo Allen, Woodford.

England [73] Assignee: Essex Engineering Works (Wanstead) Limited, London. England [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,449

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 12, 1972 United Kingdom 52841/72 [52] US. Cl 194/92; l94/DIG. 2 [51] Int. Cl. G07f 5/06 [58] Field of Search... 194/1 G, 92, 93, 101, DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,632,493 6/1927 McFarland 194/93 UX 1,908,380 5/1933 Tratsch 194/101 X 1,991,250 2/1935 Shinn 194/101 3,204,742 9/1965 Hall 194/92 3,732,962 5/1973 Hall 194/92 June 3, 1975 Primary Examiner-Robert R. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Francis J. Bartuska Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lawrence E. Laubscher 57] ABSTRACT A coin slide mechanism is actuated when a slide. loaded with three coins of appropriate denomination in respective apertures, is depressed. The flat slide is normally biased to an extended position wherein the coin apertures are exposed, first and second apertures being disposed side by side on opposite sides of a 1ongitudinal center line of the slide and the third aperture disposed further from the depressed position than the other apertures and overlapping the center line. A full stroke ratchet means ensures that the slide cannot be returned without completing its depression and coin testing means prevents depression of the slide if one or more coin apertures are empty. A guide track for the slide supports the three coins until the slide is fully depressed and then allows the coins to drop out of the slide. The mechanism can be changed to two-coin operation simply by changing the slide for one with two apertures.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COIN SLIDE MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a coin slide mechanism and more particularly to a coin-freed mechanism comprising a coin slide mounted slidably in a guide track and presenting apertures shaped to receive one or more coins resting on the guide track, the word coins" being used to include tokens and the like. The coin slide may be arranged to control operation of an appliance, such as a clothes washing machine, a drying machine or a vending machine for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coin slide mechanisms are known which may be in stalled on a housing which may be locked to prevent unauthorised access to a coin receptacle. The mechanism is mounted partly within and partly without the housing; more particularly, the coin slide and guide track project outside the housing and the remainder of the mechanism is protected inside the housing.

The coins received in the coin slide are transmitted to the coin receptacle when the coin slide is depressed to actuate the appliance controlled. An operator means for actuating the appliance is also disposed in the housing for actuation when the coin slide is fully depressed. Various latch and ratchet means are provided to prevent actuation of the operator by improper operation of the coin slide, for example by improper manipulation of the coin slide, or by inserting incorrect or dummy coins, or insufficient coins, or no coins at all in the coin slide.

Conventional coin slide mechanisms are arranged to receive and actuate in response to two coins, but there is an increasing need in the trade for three-coin slide mechanisms. Such three-coin mechanisms are difficult to design without being very much larger and much more complicated and therefore more expensive than the two-coin slides. There is also a need for a mechamism which can be simply and inexpensively changed between threeand two-coin operation in order to accommodate increases in price from time to time of the service or product being purchased.

An object of this invention is a three-coin slide mechanism which is compact in size, which is simple and reliable in construction and which is relatively inexpensive.

Another object is a three-coin slide mechanism which can readily be adapted to two-coin operation by the mere substitution of a coin-receiving slide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a coin slide mechanism comprising a guide track. mounting means for securing said guide track generally horizontally to a wall, a coin slide having first, second and third apertures therein and mounted slidably in said guide track for movement between extended and fully depressed positions, said coin slide being normally biased to said ex tended position in which said aperatures are exposed for receiving respective coins resting flat on said guide track, and said first and second apertures being disposed side by side adjacent said mounting means on opposite sides of a center line of said coin slide and said third aperture being disposed further from said mounting means than said first and second apertures and overlapping said center line when said coin slide is in said extended position, full stroke ratchet means for ensuring that the coin slide cannot be returned to its extended position from a partially depressed position without completing its stroke once the ratchet means is engaged, and coin testing means for preventing depression of the coin slide from said extended position to said fully depressed position at least if one or more of said apertures is empty, said guide track extending to support coins in said apertures during movement of said coin slide substantially to said fully depressed position and then to allow said coins to drop out of said coin slide.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings accompanying the specification in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upper side of a coin slide mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underneath side of the mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is an underneath plan view of the mechanism.

The coin slide mechanism shown in the drawings comprises a guide track 12 for mounting on a housing indicated schematically at 11 in FIG. 1, and a coin slide 10 normally biased to an extended position (as shown) and slidable in the guide track 12 to a fully depressed position to transmit coins received therein to a coin receptacle within the housing. The coin slide has first, second and third apertures l6, l8 and 20 therein for receiving three coins respectively, said first and second apertures 16 and 18 being disposed side by side adjacent said housing when the coin slide 10 is in its extended position and on opposite sides of a center line 21 of the coin slide and the third aperture 20 having its centre disposed further from the housing than the apertures l6 and 18 and overlapping the center line. The mechanism also includes a full stroke pawl and ratchet means 34 for ensuring that the coin slide cannot be returned before completing its stroke once the ratchet is engaged, and various coin testing devices for preventing movement of the coin slide to the fully depressed position at least if one or more of said apertures is empty.

Various other configurations for the coin receiving apertures can be envisaged: for example the third aperture 20 could be positioned at one side of the centre line in line with the first or second aperture 16 or 18. However, the present configuration has various advantages: for example suitable coin testing devices for all three coins can more readily be provided in the confined cross-section of the coin slide. Moreover, with other configurations a longer stroke of the coin slide would be required to take the coins past all the coin testing devices, even assuming the configuration permitted suitable coin testing devices to be provided for all three coins at all. The mechanism shown in the drawings can readily be adapted to twocoin operation merely by substituting a two-coin slide for the threecoin slide 10 shown without modifying the rest of the mechanism and, in particular, the stroke of the threecoin slide is the same as the twocoin slide, for example.

In the mechanism shown in the drawings, cams 52 and 54 are provided in the paths of the first and second apertures 16 and 18 to strip out of the apertures coins which may have been stuck orjammed in the apertures, and slots 53 and 55 are provided in the coin slide 10 which accommodate the cams. A similar stripping device can be provided for the third aperture 20'. however the provision of a corresponding slot in the coin slide weakens the coin slide and this is a disadvantage in some circumstances. Instead a chute 48 is provided in the floor of the guide track for the third coin and spring biased fingers 44 and 46, which are provided to engage the inside edges of the first and second apertures 16 and 18 adjacent the center line to sense the diameter of coins therein, are also arranged to press on the trailing edge of the third coin as it arrives at the chute 48 to tilt the third coin and eject it down the chute 48 into the coin receptacle.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the mechanism comprises a coin slide 10 slidable in a guide track 12 provided with a mounting flange 14 for securing the guide track to the wall of the housing. Apertures 16, 18 and 20 are cut in the coin slide and, by way of example, the diameters of these apertures are slightly greater than 10p, p, and 2p coins respectively, although the apertures could be sized and shaped to fit other coins. A web 22 covers part of the upper surface of the coin slide adjacent the mounting flange l4 and is provided with two apertures 24 and 26 through which coins may be inserted into the apertures 16 and 18 in the coin slide. The web 22 does not normally cover most of the aperture 20 in the coin slide, to minimize the length of the coin slide needed to accommodate the full stroke of the coin slide.

The remainder of the mechanism is disposed on the opposite side of the mounting flange 14 and is normally mounted within the housing. A return spring 28 acts between a bolt 30 mounted on the inside end of the coin slide and a post 32 mounted on the guide track. A pawl 34 mounted on the guide track co-operates with teeth and turnover recesses (not shown) in the edge of the coin slide 10 to provide a full stroke ratchet. Horizontally pivoted no-coin sensing levers 36 and 38 have fingers at their free ends aligned with the apertures 16 and 18 respectively; if a suitable coin is present in the respective aperture, the no-coin sensing lever is maintained in the position shown by engagement of the finger with the face of the coin but if a coin is missing, a detent on the lever drops into a slot (not shown) in the coin slide 10 to latch the coin slide against further depression. Alternatively, vertically pivoted no-coin sensing levers could be used to engage the edges of coins in the apertures 16 and 18. Washer detecting levers 40 and 42 are also aligned with the apertures 16 and 18; if a washer or other perforated object is placed in the coin receiving aperture, a beak on the corresponding washer detecting finger drops into the perforation and arrests the coin slide.

On the underneath of the guide track 12 are mounted the diameter checking fingers 44 and 46 which are aligned with the inside rims of coins in the apertures 16 and 18. adjacent the center line of the coin slide 10. If an undersizedcoin is present in either of the apertures 16 or 18, the corresponding finger 44 or 46 drops into the inside edge of the corresponding aperture 16 or 18 and arrests the movement of the coin slide 10. The fingcrs 44 and 46 also serve to eject a coin in the aperture down the chute 48 in the guide track into the coin receptacle. The chute 48 is formed by a simple ramp at the edge of an aperture in the floor of the guide track. A slot 50 is provided at the trailing edge of the aperture 20 in the coin slide to accommodate movement of the fingers 4-1 and 46 as they trip the trailing edge of the coin in the aperture 20 to eject it down the chute 48. The projections 52 and 54 extend through the slide 10 and present inclined cam edges to coins in the coin receiving apertures 16 and 18 to eject the coins from these apertures as the slide reaches the end of its stroke.

A horizontally pivoted lever 74 has a beak at its free end aligned with an off-centre region of the path of travel ofthe aperture 20 to provide a no-coin sensor for the aperture 20. The beak is disposed adjacent the flange 14 so that in the absence of a coin in the aperture 20 the slide 10 will be halted before the full stroke ratchet engages: the mechanism would otherwise jam. The beak has a sufficiently fine point to drop into the gap between the rim of the coin and the edge of the aperture 20 if the coin is undersized. With a suitable coin, the beak engages the face of the coin near its edge.

Other latching devices may be provided. By way of example, a further spring biased finger 56 is shown which has a sharp beak for engaging the underside of a coin in the aperture 18. The purpose of this finger is to retain any coin which might otherwise be withdrawn from the coin receptacle as the coin slide returns to its extended position, for example scraping off any adhesive tape applied to the coin to retain it in the coin slide.

Moreover, a magnet 58 is mounted in the guide track 12 above the coin slide 10 and stops 60 and 62 project downwardly from the magnet into the slots 53 and in the coin slide 10. Normal coins in the apertures 16 and 18 slide down the chute 48 beneath the stops and 62. However, ifa magnetizable slug is placed in the aperture 16 or 18 when the coin slide is depressed (assuming it is not halted by any other checking device) the magnet 58 will hold the slug up, against gravity, and it will abut the stop 60 or 62, halting the coin slide 10. A similar stop is not provided for the aperture 20 in the coin slide; instead a wire runner 64 is provided beneath the magnet 58, aligned with the aperture 20. The runner 64 does not prevent a magnetic slug in the aperture 20 enabling depression of the coin slide 10 but it does separate the slug from the magnet 58 so that the magnetic attraction is broken and the slug drops into the coin receptacle instead of being returned to the customer after actuation of the appliance.

It will be appreciated that the coin testing devices for the aperture 20 are less sophisticated than those for the apertures 16 and 18 and this simplifies the mechanism considerably. It is preferred to arrange for the third aperture 20 to receive the lowest denomination coin.

I claim:

1. A coin slide mechanism comprising a guide track, mounting means for securing said guide track generally horizontally to a wall. a coin slide having first, second and third apertures therein and mounted slidably in said guide track for movement between extended and fully depressed positions, said coin slide being normally biased to said extended position in which said apertures are exposed for receiving respective coins resting flat on said guide track, and said first and second apertures being disposed side by side adjacent said mounting means on opposite sides of a center line of said coin slide and said third aperture being disposed further from said mounting means than said first and second apertures and overlapping said center line when said coin slide is in said extended position. full stroke ratchet means for ensuring that the coin slide cannot be returned to its extended position from a partially depressed position without completing its stroke once the ratchet means is engaged, and coin testing means for preventing depression of the coin slide from said extended position to said fully depressed position at least if one or more of said apertures is empty. said guide track extending to support coins in said apertures during movement of said coin slide substantially to said fully depressed position and then to allow said coins to drop out of said coin slide, said coin testing means including first and second levers disposed and resiliently biased to engage edge regions of the faces of coins of sufficient size in said first and second apertures and to prevent continued depression of said coin slide with a coin of insufficient size in at least one of said first and second apertures, said levers being disposed and arranged to apply a force to a coin in said third aperture for ejecting the coin from said third aperture.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin testing means includes third, fourth and fifth lever members for said first, second and third apertures respectively. for engaging said coin slide to prevent continued depression of the coin slide in the absence of a coin in the respective aperture and engageable by a coin in the respective aperture to permit continued depression of the coin slide.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least said fifth lever is engageable with the face of a coin in said third aperture.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fifth lever is engageable with an edge region of said third coin of sufficient size, whereby to prevent continued depression of the coin slide with a coin of insufficient size in said third aperture.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third aperture includes an enlargement on its trailing edge for accommodating said first and second levers as the coin in said third aperture is ejected.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second levers are disposed on the opposite side of said guide track from said third and fourth levers.

7. A coin slide mechanism comprising a guide track, mounting means for securing said guide track generally horizontally to a wall, a coin slide having first, second and third apertures therein and mounted slidably in said quide track for movement between extended and fully depressed positions, said coin slide being normally biased to said extended position in which said apertures are exposed for receiving respective coins resting flat on said guide track, said first and second apertures being disposed side by side on opposite sides of the center line of said coin slide, and said third aperture being disposed so as to overlap said center line and also being disposed so that, when said coin slide is in said extended position, said third aperture is further from said mounting means than said first and second apertures, full stroke ratchet means for preventing the coin slide from being returned to its extended position from a partially depressed position without completing its stroke once the ratchet means is engaged, and coin testing means for preventing depression of the coin slide from said extended position to said fully depressed position if at least one of said apertures is empty, said guide track extending to support coins in said apertures during movement of said coin slide substantially to said fully depressed position and then to allow coins in said first and second apertures to drop out of said coin slide under gravity, said guide track including a chute for a coin from said third aperture, said coin testing means including first and second levers disposed and resiliently biased to engage the faces of coins of sufficient size in said first and second apertures and to prevent continued depression of said coin slide unless coins of sufficient sizes are in both said first and second apertures, said first and second levers being disposed and arrnaged to apply a force to a trailing region of a coin in said third aperture to tilt the coin in said third aperture and eject it down said chute.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third aperture includes an enlargement on its trailing edge for accommodating said first and second levers as the coin in said third aperture is ejected.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and second levers are disposed to engage edge regions only of coins of sufficient size on said first and second apertures.

* l =l= l= 

1. A coin slide mechanism comprising a guide track, mounting means for securing said guide track generally horizontally to a wall, a coin slide having first, second and third apertures therein and mounted slidably in said guide track for movement between extended and fully depressed positions, said coin slide being normally biased to said extended position in which said apertures are exposed for receiving respective coins resting flat on said guide track, and said first and second apertures being disposed side by side adjacent said mounting means on opposite sides of a center line of said coin slide and said third aperture being disposed further from said mounting means than said first and second apertures and overlapping said center line when said coin slide is in said extended position, full stroke ratchet means for ensuring that the coin slide cannot be returned to its extended position from a partially depressed position without completing its stroke once the ratchet means is engaged, and coin testing means for preventing depression of the coin slide from said extended position to said fully depressed position at least if one or more of said apertures is empty, said guide track extending to support coins in said apertures during movement of said coin slide substantially to said fully depressed position and then to allow said coins to drop out of said coin slide, said coin testing means including first and second levers disposed and resiliently biased to engage edge regions of the faces of coins of sufficient size in said first and second apertures and to prevenT continued depression of said coin slide with a coin of insufficient size in at least one of said first and second apertures, said levers being disposed and arranged to apply a force to a coin in said third aperture for ejecting the coin from said third aperture.
 1. A coin slide mechanism comprising a guide track, mounting means for securing said guide track generally horizontally to a wall, a coin slide having first, second and third apertures therein and mounted slidably in said guide track for movement between extended and fully depressed positions, said coin slide being normally biased to said extended position in which said apertures are exposed for receiving respective coins resting flat on said guide track, and said first and second apertures being disposed side by side adjacent said mounting means on opposite sides of a center line of said coin slide and said third aperture being disposed further from said mounting means than said first and second apertures and overlapping said center line when said coin slide is in said extended position, full stroke ratchet means for ensuring that the coin slide cannot be returned to its extended position from a partially depressed position without completing its stroke once the ratchet means is engaged, and coin testing means for preventing depression of the coin slide from said extended position to said fully depressed position at least if one or more of said apertures is empty, said guide track extending to support coins in said apertures during movement of said coin slide substantially to said fully depressed position and then to allow said coins to drop out of said coin slide, said coin testing means including first and second levers disposed and resiliently biased to engage edge regions of the faces of coins of sufficient size in said first and second apertures and to prevenT continued depression of said coin slide with a coin of insufficient size in at least one of said first and second apertures, said levers being disposed and arranged to apply a force to a coin in said third aperture for ejecting the coin from said third aperture.
 2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin testing means includes third, fourth and fifth lever members for said first, second and third apertures respectively, for engaging said coin slide to prevent continued depression of the coin slide in the absence of a coin in the respective aperture and engageable by a coin in the respective aperture to permit continued depression of the coin slide.
 3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least said fifth lever is engageable with the face of a coin in said third aperture.
 4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fifth lever is engageable with an edge region of said third coin of sufficient size, whereby to prevent continued depression of the coin slide with a coin of insufficient size in said third aperture.
 5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third aperture includes an enlargement on its trailing edge for accommodating said first and second levers as the coin in said third aperture is ejected.
 6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second levers are disposed on the opposite side of said guide track from said third and fourth levers.
 7. A coin slide mechanism comprising a guide track, mounting means for securing said guide track generally horizontally to a wall, a coin slide having first, second and third apertures therein and mounted slidably in said quide track for movement between extended and fully depressed positions, said coin slide being normally biased to said extended position in which said apertures are exposed for receiving respective coins resting flat on said guide track, said first and second apertures being disposed side by side on opposite sides of the center line of said coin slide, and said third aperture being disposed so as to overlap said center line and also being disposed so that, when said coin slide is in said extended position, said third aperture is further from said mounting means than said first and second apertures, full stroke ratchet means for preventing the coin slide from being returned to its extended position from a partially depressed position without completing its stroke once the ratchet means is engaged, and coin testing means for preventing depression of the coin slide from said extended position to said fully depressed position if at least one of said apertures is empty, said guide track extending to support coins in said apertures during movement of said coin slide substantially to said fully depressed position and then to allow coins in said first and second apertures to drop out of said coin slide under gravity, said guide track including a chute for a coin from said third aperture, said coin testing means including first and second levers disposed and resiliently biased to engage the faces of coins of sufficient size in said first and second apertures and to prevent continued depression of said coin slide unless coins of sufficient sizes are in both said first and second apertures, said first and second levers being disposed and arrnaged to apply a force to a trailing region of a coin in said third aperture to tilt the coin in said third aperture and eject it down said chute.
 8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third aperture includes an enlargement on its trailing edge for accommodating said first and second levers as the coin in said third aperture is ejected. 